Scientific and Medical Journals on the Web

This publication has been discontinued on July 19, 2011.

Introduction

Abstract

Scientific and Medical Journals on the Web has evolved since 1998. Originally, it addressed whether or not Scientific, Technical and Medical (STM) publishers needed to have an online version of their journal, while in 2001 it shifted to what form that online journal should take, focusing on usability. This years report now explores how readers expectations have changed as well as new developments that are threatening the foundation on which traditional scholarly publishing rests.

Based on a 33-question survey of more than 1,900 scientific and medical professionals, this report re-examines readers expectations, preferences and needs as they relate to the use of Web-based journals. Specifically, it reveals trends in the ways online journals are found and accessed, the most acceptable ways to pay for access to online journals and why readers submit articles to specific journals. It also benchmarks readers satisfaction with 5 leading journals in terms of types of content, information features and searching capabilities. To explore new developments, the report includes discussions of open access publishing from the authors perspective--including whether authors should be expected to pay a fee to publish their work, the effect of receiving payments on open access publishers acceptance rates and copyright issues.

Overall, this report will provide scientific and medical publishers with an invaluable step in gaining a better understanding of their readers and achieving online success.

The major objectives of this report are as follows:

• Determine frequency of use and the ways in which scientists and clinicians find and access online journals.
• Reveal the factors which scientists consider when deciding where to submit their papers.
• Understand--from the users perspective--their level of satisfaction with various attributes associated with online journals.
• Reveal the attributes of online journals deemed to be most important by scientists and clinicians.
• Determine the most acceptable and effective ways to generate revenue from online journals through advertising and subscriptions.
• Gain insights into how scientists and clinicians believe online journals should continue to evolve, including issues such as open access publishing and the use of CrossRef.

Table of Contents

Section 1. Analysis and Interpretation of Survey Results

Executive Summary of Key Findings

General Observations

Extend the Role of Online Journals in Aiding Career Development

1-5 Most Important Factors in Paper Submission

1-6 The Role of the Internet in the Publishing Process

1-9 Open Access Publishing

1-10 Funding and Payment Methods

1-12 Accepted Costs for Publishing and Reviewing Articles

Leverage Increased Acceptance of Online Journals

1-15 Prestige of Online Journals vs. Paper Journals

1-16 Learning About New Online Journals

1-19 Future of Paper-Based Journals

Improve User Experience for Online Journals

1-22 Familiarity with and Usefulness of CrossRef

1-25 Satisfaction and Importance of Online Journal Features

1-34 Leading Online Journals

Section 2. Study Methodology and Demographics

2-1 Methodology

2-3 Understanding Quadrant Analysis

2-5 Definition of Terms

2-7 Demographics

2-9 Questionnaire

Section 3. Presentation of Survey Data

Web Usage

3-1 Amount of time spent at different locations when using the Web

3-2 Browsers used

Experience With Online Journals

3-3 Ways to learn about new online journals

3-4 Time spent per week reading or browsing professional journals on the Web

3-5 Number of unique journals (print and online) read or browsed each month

3-6 Number of journals read or browsed each month that have an online version

3-7 Number of personal subscriptions to journals (either print or online)

3-8 Importance of also receiving the print edition when the online version is accessible

3-9 Importance of reviewing a full-text "sample issue" before subscribing to an online journal

3-10 Whether or not peer-reviewed articles should appear online as soon as they are ready

3-12 Whether or not authors have a right to post their own articles on their personal Web sites even if the article has been published in a journal

3-15 Most important factors when deciding where to submit papers

3-16 Level of agreement with several statements regarding online journals and publications

Paying for Online Journals

3-18 Who should pay the cost of publishing online journals

3-19 Ways to pay for access to online journals

3-20 Level of agreement with several statements regarding open access publishing

3-22 Amount willing to pay per page for work to be published using open access publishing

3-23 Fair price to pay to download one paper for readers who do not have a subscription

3-24 Ways to pay to view one article online

Searching Online Journals

3-25 Most critical pieces of information to see about a product cited in an article

3-26 Preferred method to learn more about a product of interest found in an ad

3-27 Most preferred search techniques used

3-28 Familiarity with CrossRef

3-29 Usefulness of CrossRef or a similar service

Content of Online Journals

3-30 Most read online journals

3-37 Satisfaction with the quality of specific types of content

3-39 Overall satisfaction with content

3-40 Satisfaction with specific information features

3-42 Overall satisfaction with information features

3-43 Satisfaction with specific search features

3-45 Overall satisfaction with search features

3-46 Support of preferred Web browsers by the most read online journals

Section 4. Profiles of Leading Journals

4-2 Journal of Biological Chemistry

4-12 Nature

4-22 New England Journal of Medicine

4-32 Proceedings of the National Academy of Science

4-42 Science

Each profile includes:

• Satisfaction with the quality of specific types of content in the journal
• Overall satisfaction with content in the journal
• Satisfaction with specific information features in the journal
• Overall satisfaction with information features in the journal
• Satisfaction with specific search features in the journal
• Overall satisfaction with search features in the journal

Section 5. Appendices

5-1 Insights and Perspectives

5-33 Cross-Tabulations of Survey Data

5-55 Other Publications

5-57 About BioInformatics

5-58 Our Valued Clients

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